With its quiet streets, numerous temples and friendly atmosphere, Thailand’s northern capital is a stark contrast to Bangkok. Once you’ve explored all the alleys and marveled at the temples, head south to Phuket to see one of Thailand’s most popular attractions: the beaches. Holidays with Chiang Mai and Phuket as destinations are quite a common option, especially among families who want to see the best of Thailand. Read on to find out the best way to get from Chiang Mai to Phuket.
What are the options to get from Chiang Mai to Phuket?
Although Phuket is an island, it is connected to the mainland by a Thai bridge, so unlike other popular beach destinations, you don’t have to worry about catching a ferry to reach Phuket. This makes traveling to Phuket easier, especially for travelers who are already feeling tired or for any family with children.
The two options for traveling from Chiang Mai to Phuket are plane and bus. When considering which option is best for you, keep in mind that the distance from Chiang Mai to Phuket is very long (around 1,500 kilometers or 937 miles), so the bus journey will be very, very long. Read on to find out how many hours it takes to travel from Chiang Mai to Phuket by bus.
By bus from Chiang Mai to Phuket
Greenbus at Chiang Mai Bus Station © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
In another era, traveling by bus from Chiang Mai to Phuket would have been a difficult adventure as there were no direct bus services between the two cities. That changed a few years ago when Green Bus started offering direct bus rides from Chiang Mai to Phuket. With this direct service, the bus option is very practical as you don’t have to change modes of transport until you reach your destination. Also, as we mentioned, you don’t have to worry about taking the ferry to get to Phuket. However, traveling by bus has its disadvantages, and the main one is undoubtedly the length of the journey.
The bus journey from Chiang Mai to Phuket takes almost 24 hours, which is a lot of time for such a small space. Also, the bus often leaves with some delay, so it can take even longer to get to Phuket. That said, the Green Buses that serve this route are modern and equipped with en suite facilities, TV, personal service, air conditioning and snacks. Besides, how could it be otherwise, the bus stops several times along the way for passengers to get out and stretch their legs.
The bus departs daily at 12:30 PM from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 and arrives around noon the next day at Phuket Bus Terminal 2. The bus also has some advantages over flights. It is a cheap option and depending on the airline, the price of a bus ticket can cost less than half the price of the flight. In addition, the round trip allows you to enjoy many of Thailand’s landscapes that you might miss from a plane, and even takes you through Bangkok city, which can give you an idea of what the capital is like.
Taking the bus from Chiang Mai to Phuket isn’t for everyone, especially if you don’t like spending a lot of time in a small and crowded place. It is also not a good option for families with children who will quickly get bored of the trip. Although, if you’re traveling on a budget, you shouldn’t ignore the bus travel savings.
Flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket
Chiang Mai International Airport with Doi Suthep Mountain in the background © Phuong D. Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
If your budget doesn’t allow it, flying from Chiang Mai to Phuket seems to be the best option, because this way you won’t have to waste a whole day on the bus. The flight from Chiang Mai takes only two hours, so even if you factor in the waiting time at the airport, it’s still a much faster option than the bus.
There are three airlines serving this route, so there is some price competition. Try to book as far in advance as possible to get better deals. If you also have flexibility in flight date and time, you can get a good price. Flights departing early in the morning or late in the evening with Thai AirAsia tend to be the cheapest, while those departing during the day tend to be slightly more expensive.
Thai AirAsia is just one of the airlines offering flights to Phuket from Chiang Mai. The other two are Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile. Bangkok Airways is usually the most expensive, but since Chiang Mai and Phuket are not the airline’s main destinations, you can get a good price from one city to another.
The advantage of Phuket International Airport is that it has recently been renovated and expanded to accommodate twice as many passengers. Getting from Phuket Airport to your hotel or city center is very easy as there are many transportation options. You can make this journey by air-conditioned city airport bus, shuttle bus that goes directly to Patong beach, metered taxi or shared minibus that takes you wherever you want. The latter option is cheaper and faster than city buses.
In short, unless you want to see most of the country from the window of a bus or do not want to save money for other trips, the bus is not the best way to travel from Chiang Mai to Phuket. The flight may cost twice as much, but considering the trip is only 2 hours long, many travelers agree it’s worth paying a little extra to enjoy Phuket’s beaches longer.